Wet-filter screen



Apr. w, 1923. @1,450,951

L. C.-c:RuYT

WET FILTER `SCREEN Filed July 22, 1919 fig@ Patented Apr.. 10, 1923. y

STATES LUCIEN CHARLES CRUYT, F LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO HEENAN n .FROUDE LIMITED, OF WORCESTER, ENGLAND.

war-FILTER scanEN.

Application led. July 22, 1819. Serial No. 312,624.

To all whom t may cof/wem:

Be it known that l, LUCIEN CHARLES CRUYT, subject of the King of. Belgium, residing at 315 Oxford Street, London, VV.

1, engineer, have invented new and useful lm rovements in Wet-Filter Screens, of

which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to improvements in wet-filter screens used for `bringing gases lo and liquids into intimate contact for the purpose of filtering, cleansing, cooling, heating or otherwise treating either or both of the substances. l

ln the art to which this invention relates it has been the practice to employ a porous material such as coke orto build up a spongiform screen of some porous material which is then wetted or iniltrated with the li uid and through which gas is then passed.

n theory, the interstices in such a screen, present a large surface for the liquid to spread over vand also split up the flow of gas into a multiplicity of small streams, which, passing through the interstices, come into intimate contact with the liquid.

ln practice, however, the Screens are notably inecient that is to say the whole of the surface presented is not wetted. A wet-surface efficiency of about 70 per cent has been considered good but generally the wet-surface eiiciency falls awa rapidly to values as low as per. cent. Consequently, screens have had to be designed to pass a much larger volume of gas than required.

This falling oil in efficiency is due to several causes amongst which may be stated the fact that the liquid generally used is water and since water possesses a greater surface tension than most liquids it coheres about and blocks the interstices in the coke or other material of the screen preventing the passage of gas.

Again the dirt or dust-laden gas in its passage through the screen: parts with its solid particles which adhere to the screen and choke the interstices effectively preventing the passage of liquid or gas. @logging or choking of the screen also takes place when the material forming the screen is rough and not smooth because beads of water or other liquid and dirt cling to the rough surface.

The object of this invention is to improve the wet-surface eiiiciency of the screen and thereby'reduce the dimensions and cost of saine.`

To this end therefore I employ smooth non-porous material with which to form the body or' the screen. Such material presents a smooth even surface for the liquid to flow over and this continuous flow of liquid carries away with it al1 the solid matter structed according to this invention, in

which,

Figure l is an elevation partly broken away, and Figure 2 is a vertical section of same.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic representation of an open sided loop formed by the intersection of one of the filamentous elements .constituting the matted mass of my improved screen.

ln the drawing 1 designates a frame of wood or metal of channel section filledwith smooth non-porous material such as metallic wood 2 tangled into a spongiform mass, said mass being inherently characterised by the presence of a large proportion of interstices formed by the intersection ot the filamentous elements of the mass, which interstices are open-sided at one point, `as shown diagrammatically, at 5 in Figure 3, in which the sides of the loop therein shown pass one behind the other at the points of intersection leaving an open'space through which the liquid adhering to the surface of the wire drains, defeating the tendency of said liquid to form a film over the interstice as would be the case were the latter a completely closed loop.

The mass is retained in place by acsheet of wire 3 and an outer sheet of expanded metal 4 on each side of the frame.

When metal wire or ribbonis used it may be galvanized or otherwise treated to prevent corrosion due to the liquid or gas. Similarly when other materials are used they may be provided with a protective coating. Aluminium wire or ribbon is very suitable material in some cases.

Screens as above described are arranged El l0 in a suitable duct and sprayed or otherwise be Wet by liquid flow thereoverend' matted infiltrated with liquid. together to form interstices for the passage.

I claim: of gas therethrough. 10 A Wet-filter for gas com' rising a screen Signed at London this 3rd day of July, 5 and a filling medium assoe'ated therewith 1919.

and composedI of a mass of smooth, non-` porous, lamentous elements adapted to LUCEN CHARLES CRUYT. 

